But she still repeated the same words, continually exclaiming, ‘Oh, the river!” over and over again. ‘ I know it’s like me!’ she exclaimed, ‘I know that I belong to it. I know that it’s the natural company of such as I am! It comes from country places, where there was once no harm in it – and it creeps through the dismal streets, defiled and miserable – and it goes away, like my life, to a great sea, that is always troubled – and I feel that I must go with it!’

The first time David saw him again Mr. Peggoty offered what he could. “I’ll tell you Mas’r Davy,’ he said, – ‘wheer all I’ve been, and what-all we’ve heerd. I’ve been fur, and we’ve heerd little; but I’ll tell you!” -Charles Dickens, David Copperfield

Shortly thereafter Mr. Peggoty took up his search again. In Hindi one might say he had a hundred thousand heads – doggedly persistant!

I tried, but figured Agnes could not have had the time to curl her hair.

The following is Copperfield’s description, after moving in with the Wickfields: “I cannot call to mind where or when, in my childhood, I had seen a stained glass window in a church. Nor do I recollect its subject. But I know that when I saw her turn round, in the grave light of the old staircase, and wait for us, above, I thought of that window; and I associated something of its tranquil brightness with Agnes Wickfield ever afterwards.” – Charles Dickens, David Copperfield

“Peggotty was glad to get it for him, and he overwhelmed her with thanks, and went his way up Tottenham Court Road, carrying the flower-pot affectionately in his arms, with one of the most delighted expressions of countenance I ever saw.” – Charles Dickens, David Copperfield

Dog-sitting, day three: After we had, five new dogs arrived at the local dog park, the last of which, unlike the others, veered north along the chain-link fence. His owner felt obliged to inform, “Just checking his pee-mail.”

Author: Harriet ZiefertIllustrator:Barroux (click for HZ’s post on visiting Barroux)Publisher: Blue Apple, 2012Themes: dogs, animal rescueAge Level: 4 and upOpening: Here is Lucy at the pound, where we found her. She needed to be rescued. Her time was almost up.Summary: (from the publisher) When Lucy is adopted from the local animal shelter, her new family thinks that they have chosen a perfect pet. And she is, right up to the minute she starts to howl, and howl, and howl some more. Treats, tricks, a soft red bed, lullabies, and even doggy therapy cannot stop her “Wah-ooo-ooo-roo!” It is the little girl who figures out that Lucy needs a comfy friend (her own stuffed animal) and Lucy who figures out that she needs as many as she can get her paws on. And then, all is well.

Why I like this book: I’ll admit, the cover grabbed me! And the end papers. And the seemingly simple yet heartwarming story. But the illustrator was able to show how an anxious puppy’s howling can fill a room. I have never owned a dog, but I live close to the local university. New college kids move in next door almost every year, getting a puppy and leaving it home a lot (sad to have to add this) so I know what puppy howling ‘looks’ like, and how heartbreaking it feels to hear it. Barroux must know this too!Resources/Activities: Volunteering at your local Humane Society isn’t something kids can easily do on their own, but here are some ways kids can help; offer to watch a neighbor’s puppy when they go out!

Welcome to Design of the Picture Book! I'm Carter Higgins, and I'm a writer and librarian for kids. I spent a spectacular stint as the Children's Book Editor at <a href="http://www.designmom.com/">Design Mom</a> which I loved! You can find my column <a href="http://www.designmom.com/category/childrens-lit/">here</a>.<br /> I'm a K-6 librarian, a former-ish graphic designer, an SCBWI member, and a huge fan of words and pictures.<br /> Represented by <a href="http://www.rpcontent.com/">Rubin Pfeffer of Rubin Pfeffer Content, LLC</a>.